7734 Santa Monica Boulevard,

West Hollywood,
CA90046

Hi there, I’m working on a project about the old Pussycat Theater and would like to interview former (and current Studs) employees—projectionists, managers, ushers, ticket sellers, janitors, etc. No on-camera required. alisonnastasi (at) gmail

The prints which remain in front of the theatre are:
Linda Lovelace – 12/20/73
Jay Lawrence – 11/19/74 (a radio DJ for KLAC at the time)
Georgina Spelvin – 9/29/77
Marilyn Chambers – 5/23/80
Harry Reems – 9/30/82
Eric Edwards & Kay Parker – 7/12/84 (share a tile)
John Holmes -2/7/85
There are two blank/patched spaces, which match the dimensions of the other tiles, suggesting there may have been at least two more prints at one time.

If anyone has any stories about going to/ working at this threatre in its adult days, I would love to hear them. I am chronicling the histories of adult theatres in the US. Please contact me at
Thanks!

the management is planning to initiate a “womens night” at studs, where from 11pm until closing groups of 3 women or more get FREE ADMISSION on the 1st and 4th Saturdays of the month..its partly to head off a judgement from a complaint of discrimination by women who claim that they were refused admittance into Studs in 2007 because they had no escorts..
A MAJOR Asian pornstar is planning an appearance at the theater on July 3 2010 to film a porn “documentary” for BANG BROS.

This article “When Cathouses Ruled California” has much history on this theater, and the entire CA Pussycat chain, told via interviews with theater operators and employees. Lots of photos too, including many credited to cinematreasures contribs – View link

The other night I watched a DVD (released in 2006 by Raincoat Theater, a division of Media Blasters) of the 1980 Marilyn Chambers film “Insatiable”—One of the bonus features on that DVD was footage of Marilyn Chambers (the film’s star) at a premiere of that film at this theater in May of 1980, including where she was putting her hand prints into the cement in front of the theater. This was during the daytime and there was a crowd of about 50 watching from outside the theater (all men). The footage also showed a little bit of the lobby including a shot of Vince Miranda. (Chambers narrates the footage, which is well worth watching.)

“Insatiable” was considered Chambers porn comeback after a foray into mainsteam film (the most notable being “Rabid”, directed by David Croenberg in which she plays a vampire) and was hyped for a time due to a scene in which she has sex with John Holmes. The film premiered here and would essentially become the last theatrical XXX film to have financial success with a cross-over (ie couples) audience. This, of course, had to do with the advent of VHS, and even at this point, theatrical XXX audiences were going back to being essentially male.

the theater is trying very hard o woo couples and females to the theater..As of january 2010,Studs now has two straight porn viewing rooms and two gay rooms ..The staff is also more vigilant and fast acting when (if ) a female patron complains..Lesbian couples are starting to show up more and more since late November , usually in the early Saturday or Sunday hours…In December a well known soap -opera star was there (with his blonde girlfriend) doing “research"for a movie role..(i guess)The coffee/hot cocoa/teaand snacks are STILL only 25 cents and NO i do not work at this place , so if you are inclined to go, then go..if not well….

There is one set of hand/feetprints at the site I can’t remember who they belong to (if I ever knew…). There’s Linda Lovelace, John Holmes, Harry Reems, Marilyn Chambers, Georgina Spelvin, Eric Edwards, Kay Parker, and… Someone else. It seems like it’s Jay something or other???? Does anyone know? Who is it and who was he/she? Thanks

Greetings. I guess I was recollecting in general, some of what I remember discussing elsewhere on how the Triple X industry both impacted older theatres, and then took off on it’s own after basically no longer needing them. Some theatres read as rebounding after Triple X, some don’t.

I like to read all the posts when I link to an unfamiliar theatre. I guess the post from 2004 about the business & advertising/money end of the Pussycat Theater, had gotten my mind going in the direction it did.
As I read on, stream of thought went where it went.

Though my comments may not have been about this particular theatre, I thought they were somewhat relevant and might be of interest to some.
If my last reading of the Studs Theatre as a “dying breed” was an unconscious catalyst, my post might have shed some light on how/why the X industry seemed to fare elsewhere.

In Chicago, once home to many X rated theatres, I can think of only one still in existence, The Admiral. And that’s really now more of the live stage show nature. With small video booths instead of a projector and mass seating as it once had. Also open 24/7.
It spent a lot of money during a remodel years back, and stayed around long after the rest of it’s like theatres closed up. So I guess that would be the ultimate of the dying breed. That is in no danger of dying anytime soon.
Someone else reading this may now very well click to the Admiral page.

If I went off topic, I certainly apologize. But if some reading my posts have other memories triggered by them, I think that’s what CT is all about. I sometimes read posts by some who have never even been in the theatres or cities they are located in. They merely post to praise any given theatre’s architecture, history or past promotions as they come across them. Then they are maybe reminded about a different forgotten theatre, or tour like Cinerama. And they begin to search CT even more. I know I do.

There are several ironies in the television & VCR’s having hastened the demise of movie theaters, premise.

One, that some theaters once claimed to having “had” to run porno in order to stay afloat, then closed anyway.
Two, that the porno film biz seemed to flourish from an industry in the shadows, into a multi-million dollar juggernaut. Once it came into video and now DVD itself.
Once the product could be purchased and brought into homes, and not sought out in theaters where interacting with others whether desirable or not, was a given.
The industry then got another giant boost, with the introduction of the internet. Then it’s customer base needn’t even leave their homes to buy the product.

I remember the day’s of “Caligula” creating an uproar when it was first released. And it had name stars in it. It’s probably multiplied it’s sales many times over since then. Probably to it’s own makers surprise.

Which theaters then video stores ran/carried the X version of “The Bad Lieutenant”, was the last such controversy. Upon it’s release, the popularity of owning your own copies of anything was on a fast uprise.

Haha, this has “got” to be a “cinema treasure” with a name like “Studs Theater”.

I remember passing this theater a few times when driving on Santa Monica Blvd when I was in the area. It had a different name though the last time I went by, and from what it sounds like from the comments above, it changed names this year.